<p>The Island of Baal of All the Islands of Knights and Knaves</p>

15.

The Island of Baal of All the Islands of Knights and Knaves

The Island of Baal
Of all the islands of knights and knaves, the island of Baal is the weirdest and most remarkable. This island is inhabited exclusively by humans and monkeys. The monkey, as well as every human, is either a knight or a knave.
In the dead center of this island stands the Temple of Baal, one of the most remarkable temples in the entire universe. The high priests are metaphysicians, and in the Inner Sanctum of the temple can be found a priest who is rumored to know the answer to the ultimate mystery of the universe; why there is something instead of nothing.
Aspirants to the Sacred Knowledge are allowed to visit the Inner Sanctum, provided that they prove themselves worthy by passing three series of tests. I learned all these secrets, incidentally, by stealth: I had to enter the temple disguised as a monkey. I did this at great personal risk. Had I been caught, the penalty would have been unimaginable. Instead of merely annihilating me, the priests would have changed the very laws of the universe in such a way that I could never have been born!
Well, a philosopher who was searching for the answer to the question, "Why is there something rather than nothing?" arrived on the island of Baal and agreed to try the tests. The first series took place on three consecutive days in a huge room called the Outer Sanctum. In the center of the room a cowled figure was seated on a golden throne. He was either a human or a monkey, and also a knight or a knave. He uttered a sacred sentence, and from this sentence the philosopher had to deduce exactly what he was, whether a knight or a knave, and whether a human or a monkey.
The First Test
The speaker said, "I am either a knave or a monkey." Exactly what is he?
The Second Test
The speaker said, "I am a knave and a monkey." Exactly what is he?
The Third Test
The speaker said, "I am not both a monkey and a knight." What is he?

Submitted by tartle · Added 20 November 2009 · Updated 5 July 2026

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Solution:

In the First Test, the speaker must be a knight and a monkey because if he were a knave, the statement would be false, which contradicts the nature of knaves. So, the First Subject = Monkey Knight.

In the Second Test, the speaker cannot be a knight, as a knight cannot claim to be a knave; thus, he is a knave and a human. So, the Second Subject = Human Knave.

In the Third Test, the speaker cannot be a knave, as that would make him a lying knight; therefore, he must be a knight and cannot be a monkey. So, the Third Subject = Human Knight.

Comments (2)

rj82330 ★ Solved 23 November 2009

First Test: Can never be false - or else it becomes contradictory. So it has to be true, so the speaker cannot be a knave.

So FIRST Subject = MONKEY KNIGHT

Second Test: Can never be true, since the speaker would then be a knave and a liar. So it must be false, in which can the speaker must be a knave, but not a monkey

So SECOND Subject = HUMAN KNAVE

Third Test: Can never be false, since the speaker would become a lying knight. So it must be true. In this case, the speaker must be a knight, so cannot be a monkey.

So THIRD Subject = HUMAN KNIGHT

s.b. 3 January 2011

it would have reeli helped if ud just mentioned that knaves always lie and knights are always truthful...maybe its obvious to u but to amateurs lyk me it would really help.....thanks! :)

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